Dolphins make significant changes on offensive line — for now

Injury to right guard John Jerry gives team chance to experiment by moving other players

This 2010 third-round pick has started 29 games in his three seasons, but… (Carline Jean / Sun Sentinel )

July 26, 2013|Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel

DAVIE — There were big changes on the Dolphins' offensive line Friday, and no one is saying whether they're permanent or temporary. With right guard John Jerry on crutches due to an undisclosed injury, left guard Richie Incognito was switched to right guard, and rookie left tackle Dallas Thomas was moved to left guard.

In essence, that means only one of Friday's offensive line starters — center Mike Pouncey — is playing the same position he played a year ago. Coach Joe Philbin downplayed any significance to the offensive line changes.

"It's training camp, and we want to get a look at different combinations of guys at different spots," he said.

But you can't help thinking this could be a harbinger.

Jerry's hold on the starting right guard position has seemed tenuous throughout the offseason. He was ranked 49th among 81 guards last season, according to ProFootballFocus.

By comparison, Incognito, who played in the Pro Bowl after originally being selected as an alternate, ranked 24th. Jerry was the lowest-ranked starting guard in the AFC East. Worse, he seemed to gain weight in the brief time between organized team activities and minicamp.

Improvement is necessary up front. ProFootballFocus had the Dolphins' offensive line ranked when running the ball and 24th when passing.

"It's a work in progress, as are some of the other [positions]," Philbin said of the offensive line.

Entering training camp it appeared the middle of the offensive line — Pouncey at center, Incognito at left guard and Jerry at right guard — would remain intact. The only changes were thought to be moving Jonathan Martin from right tackle to left tackle, and having free agent signee Tyson Clabo starting at right tackle.

Now it appears the shaky offensive line of a year ago is getting a tough second look. On Wednesday, backup center Josh Samuda, the former Hollywood Hills standout who played guard at Massachusetts, took snaps with the starters at Jerry's right guard position.

In fact, the only constant about the offensive line through five days of training camp practices is they're getting crushed by the creative blitz packages used by defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle.

Friday was yet another day the offensive line appeared dazed and confused against blitzes. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill had few problems against the regular pass rush, but when Coyle threw blitzes at them his defense almost always had success.

There's an urgent need to work out the bugs in the offensive line. They've got to protect Tannehill so he can throw to those fancy new passing-game additions — wide receivers Mike Wallace and Brandon Gibson and tight end Dustin Keller.

And they've got to blow open holes for a running game that will have a first-year starter at running back whether it's Lamar Miller, Daniel Thomas, Mike Gillislee or someone else.

Dallas Thomas, the third-round pick from Tennessee, played tackle throughout college until last season, when he switched to guard. In total he made 37 collegiate starts, the first 25 at left tackle and the final 12 at left guard.

Thomas, who was slowed during OTAs as he recovered from shoulder surgery, said he was initially nervous playing with the starters for the first time.

"It was just lining up with the guys because they're all professionals, they know what they're doing," he said.

"I was just trying to make sure I knew everything so it wouldn't slow the guys down, so they didn't have to worry about carrying the rookie along."

Dolphins defensive players said they didn't notice much difference with the offensive line's performance.

"Everybody's got different tendencies and different things they bring to the game," defensive end Jared Odrick said.

"I didn't really notice anything. Obviously some guys were playing in different spots, whether it's left or right. But I'm not there to judge that too much. Maybe I'll see tape before I can say something like that."